THUNDER SILENCE RUSH ON KISS NIGHT

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Mark Miller and Ryan Misiak extended their point-streaks to four games each in the second period, but the Wichita Thunder pulled away in the second period to defeat the Rapid City Rush 3-1 on “KISS Night” on Friday night.

Both teams skated through a scoreless first period, but three goals from both teams in the middle frame opened up the goal entries in the box score. Doing so first was the Thunder, who on their second power play of the game found offense from former Rush defenseman Landon Oslanski when he fired a wrist shot from the top of the Rush zone that beat Rush net-minder Sam Marotta up over the glove. The tally came with 8:40 gone by in the second period, and lifted Wichita to a 1-0 lead (Kale Kerbashian and Miles Koules earned the assists). Less than two minutes later, the Rush evened the score off the hot hand of Mark Miller. With 9:34 left in the second, Ryan Walters found Ryan Misiak up the length of the ice. Misiak couldn’t capitalize on his shot, but he sent it in front of the net and Mark Miller slammed the puck by Wichita goaltender Sean Bonar to even the score at 1-1 (Misiak and Walters earned the assists; Miller and Misiak extended their point streaks to four games each). Wichita jumped back on top when Oslanski found Kenton Miller in neutral ice. Miller broke the Rush blue line and sent a wrist shot up high on Marotta to put the visitors up 2-1 with 5:46 left in the second (Oslanski garnered the lone helper). Towards the end of the period, the Rush were awarded a 5-on-3 power play for 1:54, but could not solve Bonar in the advantage.

Wichita put the game away with an empty-net goal late in the third. Despite multiple opportunities in the third period, Christian Isackson ended the Rush comeback bid with a neutral zone shot into the empty net, bringing the game to its 3-1 final score.

Sam Marotta suffered the loss, his first in four starts, stopping 20 of 22 Thunder shots (7-12-2).

Both teams rematch for the final time this season tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Rush will re-wear the KISS specialty jerseys they donned this evening tomorrow night, with the jersey auction and poster signing taking place after the game.

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